Summer Fizzle for Fire Pits?

San Diego’s beloved fire pits could be ripped out this summer unless more private donors come forward soon, according to city officials.

Public fire pits along the coast could be shut down on July 1 to trim $120,500 a year from the city’s budget, according to city officials.

So far about 70 percent of the money needed has been raised to save the fire pits, but the city needs 100 percent of the funding.

As he’s done several times in recent years, Mayor Jerry Sanders has cut maintenance from the budget. The city staffs two full-time positions to take care of the pits that are cleaned weekly in the summer and biweekly in the winter.

So far, private donations have kept the 186 fire pits in operation.

The city has scheduled a news conference for 9.30 a.m. Thursday to announce how the public can step in to help.

The fire pits are located in Mission bay and on the beaches of La Jolla, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach and Ocean Beach.

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